Can you trek without a guide in Nepal?

In April 2023 the Nepalese Tourist Board announced that guides would be mandatory for all trekkers hiking within a national park (which accounts for pretty much all the main trekking regions), except for people trekking in the Everest region. When it came down to it though the rule was not enforced due to local opposition. However, in June 2023 the tourist board again insisted on compulsory guides and increased fines for those not respecting the rules. It won’t be known how strictly the rule is enforced until the trekking season recommences after the monsoon in October 2023.

From my personal experience a guide is not only handy for route finding but serves the vital role of being a language and cultural translator and can open doors to experiences, sights and encounters that might otherwise pass you by. A good guide can also be very useful for showing interesting and little known side routes.